Milliampere seconds timer



July 18,1944.

MILLIAMPERE SECONDS TIMER Filed July 4, 1942 Flare CUPEEW mauenrxwv 8 06 I lNVENTOR 4 4. ba /5614.56" BY ATTORNEY L. L. WEISGLASS 2,353,980

Patented July 18, 1944 MfILLIAllflERE SECONDS TIMER Louis L. Weisglass, New York, .N. Y., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 4, 1942, Serial No. 449,816 Claims. (c1. 250-95) The invention relates to X-ray apparatus, and more particularly to exposure systems for con-- trolling the operation of such apparatus.

The customary.method of adjusting an X-ray apparatus to an exposure of a desired millampore-second value (M. A. .S.) is to set the tube current by means of the filament regulator and to select the exposure time on a timing device so that the product of the chosen milliamps and seconds amounts to the required M. A. S. value. It is also known to use, instead of an ordinary timer, a milliampere-seconds relay as an integrating device in order to interrupt the excitation current of the X-ray tube in dependence upon a predetermined M. A. S. value.

The invention concerns itself with the latter type of X-ray exposure systems and aims at improvements as regards operation, accuracy, adaptability and simplicity of the electrical integrating and relay control means of such a system. More in detail, one of the objects of the invena tion is to obtain a milliampere-seconds timer of high accuracy throughout an extensive range of selective M. A. S. values. It is also an object of the invention to permit employing an A, C. contactor as a timer relay and providing an electronically-controlled A. C. power circuit tor the relay coil without thereby impairing the accuracy of response to the correct M. A. S. value or requiring integrating or measuring means of in convenient dimensions or intricate construction; A further object, referring to an electronic relay control, is to afford an easy calibration or readjustment of the system should the exchange of a control tube become necessary. Still another object consists in providing an exposure system which, though directly responding to the high voltage current of the X-ray circuit, operates with very low instrument voltages and currents and hence can be formed of customary and simple components of small compass and low current consumption.

According to the invention, in one of. its :aspects, an X-ray apparatus, having an energizing network controlled by a timer relay, is provided with a voltage source whose output voltage 'depends on the milliamperage of the X-ray current. A charging circuit, containing resistance means and a capacitor in series-arrangementis connected with the voltage source so that the capacitor accumulates a charge of increasing voltage supplied from the voltage source during exposure periods at a rate determined by the time constant of the ircuit. Hence, wh effect n an exp sure, the voltage built up across the capacitor is I of particular bias means connected with the,ca-

pacitor for determining its starting voltage :and rendering it different from zero in order to .reduce the grid current of the electronic measuring means. The invention is further concerned with particular starting means and their constructive association with resetting means. 4

These and other features of the invention will be understoodfrom the embodiment exemplified bythe drawing.

Fig. l'shows thecomplete circuit diagram of an X-ray apparatus .andtiming system according to the invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are explanatory, and represent valve cir-' current characteristics-of one of the cuits of the sametiming system.

Fig. .4, also explanatory and referring same embodiment, is a voltage-time diagram for elucidating the operation and rating of circuit elements of the timing system.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 has. the electrode circuit of its X-ray tube. ID connected through a'rectifier bridgell with two high voltage coils l2 and: I 3 of.- a transformer 14 whose primary IS, in series-arrangement with the con-' tact 16 of a timer'relay I1; is'connected'with a'" main switch or cut-rout [8 through which the'operating current is supplied'froni the line 319 carrying, for instance, utility 'current of ordinary voltage and frequency (110 v., .cycles)." The two high voltage coils J2 and [3 have their midpoint grounded, a resistor 20 :be'ing-insertecl in the grounded midpoint connection. The connec tions of transformer :l4 may include the customary control devices, such as select'oror -dial' switches connected'to taps of the primary and secondary coils for adjusting ,the millia'mperage and kilovoltage of the X-raytube. "Such auxiliary devices are well known, not essential to the invention proper, and'hencei not the drawing.

Connected with to as other I illustrated in I the resistor a charging drop of resistor 20 drives a charging current through rectifier 22 and resistor 23 into the con- As a result, the condenser builds up a; (f voltage in accordance with the exposure energy supplied to the X-ray tube and at arate depending upon the time constant of the charging cir: cuit, the latter being adjustable by means of the denser.

variable resistor 23. The chosen adjustment of ampere-seconds as will be set forth in a later place. Assuming a proper rating and adjustment integral of the tube. I

The" condenser 2|, or rather. the voltage oc-' curring between its electrodes,'is used for con-1 trollingthe operation of the 'above mentioned' timer relay To this end, a controlnetwork; extends between the condenser 2| and'theactuating coil 50 of the relay l1. 1 The network comprises a three-electrode electrometer tube-3| having its electrodes 32 and 33*connected with the; condenser electrodes respectively, and its plate 34 arranged in a plate circuit 35:in 'series with a variableresistor '36:" An auxiliary transformer 40 'has a primary 4| connected withthe main switch I8 and a secondary 31 arranged inthe an-v ode circuit 35'for supplying anode voltage to the tube 3|. shown at 5| connects the'tube electrodes53 and. with another secondary 51 of thetransformer'dfltand.l The I includes the coil 50 of the timer relay' control grid 52 of the'gas, discharge'tube .is connected with the .plate 'circuitof the electrometer A battery 58 disposed between the two tube 3|. tube circuits supplies a gridbias for tube 5 I.

' A switch 60, preferably of the push-button type, is provided for starting the operation of the -ap'-' The switch has two contact pairs 6! paratus. and 62; Pair 6| .lies' serially in the tube circuit 55 so as to close thecircuit of the relayicoil 50. when actuating the switch by moving its contact assembly in the direction of the arrow 63; Contact pair 62 controls a discharge circuit ,which-f contains a battery and'a resistor 72 connected in series to'the electrodes. of condenser-.2 The A grid-controlled gas discharge tube is The plate circuit 55 of:this-;tubej of the elements in the charging circuit, it will be: apparent from the foregoing that during an ex posure, the voltage of condenser 2! increases: gradually so that its magnitude-at any moment ofithe operating period, is proportional to'the; anode energy supplied to the battery 1| determinesthelowest startingpotem tial of the condenser in order to reduce'the grid currents to a minimum.- That is, when the switch 60 is in the illustrated position, the condenser 2|. 1'

is short-circuited through battery contact pair 62 and resistor 12, and, after a preceding charge,'

discharges itself down to a minimum voltage determinedby thebattery "1|. :The discharge current is limited by the resistor. 12. 1

A parallel path 56, containinga small junctiom type rectifier and a series resistor, is connected across the relay coil .50. JThe: transformer 49 should be stabilized from line fluctuations, and to this end contains an auxiliary condenser 42 in its primary circuit: s

.relay contact I6 is in its open position so as'to prevent the energization of the high voltage transformer I4.

In order to effect an exposure, the push-but Q ton switch Ellis pressed and kept in the pressed position.until the exposure is automatically completed, unless .the operator for any reason intends to interrupt the exposure by prematurely this resistor determines the exposure in millireleasing the button,

Pressing the switch fill has the efiect of opening contacts 62, thereby disconnecting the discharge circuit 10 from the condenser 2| so that the latter is ready toacoumulate a charge from resistor 20. .At thesame time, contacts 6| are closed and complete the plate circuit 55 of the gas dischargetube 5|. As a result, the relay coil iscenergized from the secondary 5'! of transformer 40. The relay contact I6 is attracted and connects the primary I5 of the high Voltage transformer M to the line. Consequently, the Xray tube Ii] is now energized and the exposure started.

. During the exposure, the resistor 20 maintains a voltage drop in proportion to the milliamperage of the'anode energy supplied to the tube and causes the condenser 2|fto be charged beyond the minimum charge previously supplied by the battery As the exposure progresses, the voltage across condenser 2| increases gradually.

Thebias voltage applied by battery 58 to the grid ofthe gas discharge tube 5| is high enough to renderthe grid'52 ineffective as long as the X-raycurrent is zero or nearly zero. Henceat the beginning of an exposure, and as above mentioned tharelay coil 50 becomes energized when starting an exposure However, when the condenser voltage across 2| increases, the current in the plate circuit of the electrometer tube 3|, biased by an increasingly negative grid potential at 3 2, is proportionally reduced until thepotential of grid 52reaches-the limit value for 1 sistor. Upon reaching the blocking limit, the flow of current through circuit isinterrupted, the relay; coil 50 isdeenergized, and therelay contact I6 opened. This cuts ofl the current supply to the primary |5 of the high voltage transformer. The condenser 2|, having very low leakage when disconnected from the discharging circuit 15, retains its eventual charge sufficiently lon to keep the'control network in the last-mentioned condition. Therefore, the exposure is now definitely terminated.

;By releasing the push button 60, the discharge circuit 10 becomes effective and the system assumes the original condition ready for another exposure.

The plate current of the discharge tube 5| is a half-wave'current as represented by the currenttime diagram of Fig. 2. Such an intermittent current is not well suited for operating the coilof an A. C. contact relay. Nevertheless such a relay can be used at I! if a parallel path of the illustrated=typew(56)*is employed. The small rectifier in series with a resistor permits the self induction current of therelay coil El te flow through these elements in the stop phases of the gas discharge tube'tl so that vibrations of the relay contact are prevented.- The-resulting current curve is represented'by the current-' timediagramofl ig3.

As mentioned previously, the time elapsing from the starting moment until the charge of condenser IPreaches the critical voltage for blocking the control tube 5*], and hence the duration of the exposure, depend -'on the milliamperage'in the X-ray tube circuitand on the time constant of the charging circuit containing resistor 23: Consequently, the exposure period established by the system depends on the milli-ampere-seoonds product. All circuit elements of the'charging circuit being constant except the resistor 23, the time constant of the charge can 'be adjusted merely by varying the resistance value of resistor 23. This resistor can be calibrated in milliam-' I pore-seconds, thus permitting an easy selectionof the desired exposure before setting the system in operation. 'If the milliamperage of the X-ray tube circuit is kept constant, the scale of resistor 23 may also be gauged in seconds if desired] In order to obtain a simple calibration of the adjustable resistor, and in the 'interest of'high' accuracy of operation; the following relative rating of the circuit elements in'the charging circuit is preferable. I

Although the voltage built up in condenser is definitely determined by the voltage of the volt-1 age source of the charging circuiti. e. the voltage drop in resistor 20, which in tum maintains a linear proportion to the X-ray tube current, the voltage increasegin condenser 21 follows strictly not a linear law but obeys the "exponential *function v wherein Q t=time Ct=voltage at the tim t I E=chargi-ng voltage ="R" e=base of the natural logarithm.

Two exponential voltage curves relating to different charging voltages are exemplified by the voltage-time diagram of Fig. 4. While, according to the diagram, the voltage curves are nonlinear, their initial portions are virtually straight. Therefore, if the highest charging voltage utilized, of condenser 2|, is kept very small as compared with the lowest voltage drop (for lowest used tube currents) in resistor 20, a linear proportion is maintained between X-ray tube current and exposure time for equal M. A. S. settings of the adjusting means. That is, the calibration and adjustment of the resistor 23 are simplified and an equal degree of accuracy is obtained within the available range of exposures.

For these reasons, the constants of the charging circuit should be so chosen that the lowest voltage drop in resistor 20 is several or many times larger than the highest voltage across condenser 2l. For instance, the highest condenser voltage may be approximately ten volts. A relatively high voltage drop in resistor 20 is required as well as a high resistance in 23 to operate satisfactorily within an exposure range of, for instance, 10 to 300 A. S. The capacity of the devices.

measuring condenser 21', for the same reasons, is rather small, for instance 2 mi. This means that theieakageiofthis condenser and the grid cur rent-of the tube 3| must bexvery small. Under such conditions, the above-described use of a' tube voltmeter for measuring the condenser voltage is preferable to other available measuring The use of a battery as indicated at H is also favorable tothe just-mentioned conditions because of the reduction in grid current obtained thereby.

.Theadjustment 10f resistor 36 need not be changed when ioperating the system. When exchanging a tube, however, this resistor permits recalibrating" the system correctly by changing its adjustment-in accordance with the possible difierences :in the constants of the new tube;

It thus becomes obvious to those skilled in the art that anX-ray system is herein provided in which the energization of the X-ray tube in milliampereeseconds is accurately controlled thereby assuring'the correct exposure for each part of the anatomy in accordance with standard charts.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood ;that' other modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I-claim: g

Anexposure system for X-ray apparatus, comprising a voltage source controlled by the apparatusior producingan output voltage proportional to the exposure current of the apparatus, a charging c'ircuit ofzgiven time constant connected to said voltagesource and containing a low leakage capacitor for accumulating in the latter a charge of increasing voltage supplied f-rom 'said :source during exposure periods. an electrometric tube circuit connected with said capacitor for measuring :said voltage, a relay for controlling the apparatus, and a grid-controlled gas discharge tubehaving a :plate circuit connected with :said relayaand a grid circuit connected with said :electrometric tube circuit for controlling said: relay a-nd to cause it to termimate the exposurewhe'n said capacitor voltag reachesagiven magnitude.

r 12. The combination with an 'X-ray apparatus having an X-ray tube and a network for energizing said tube, of an exposure system comprising a resistor connected with said network and having a voltage drop proportional to the ampcrage supplied to said tube, a charging circuit containing in series variable resistance means and a low leakage capacitor for accumulating a charge of increasing voltage supplied by said resistor during exposure periods, a relay having control contacts disposed in said energizing network to control the energization of said tube, a control network disposed between said capacitor and said relay, a discharge tube forming part of said control network and having a plate circuit for controlling said relay and a grid circuit connected with said capacitor for actuating said relay and operable to stop the energization of said tube in response to said capacitor voltage reaching a given magnitude, a discharge circuit connected across said capacitor for reducing the current in said grid circuit, said discharge circuit containing a voltage source rated for impressing on said capacitor a low voltage as compared with said magnitude to maintain the starting voltage of said capacitor at a given value diiierent from zero, and circuit control means connected with said discharge circuit for disconnecting said voltage source from said capacitor=during exposure periods. v K

3. The combinations-withran'- X-ray apparatus having an X-ray tube and a: networkfor'ener gizing said tube,of an-exposure system comprising a resistorconnected with: saidrietwork and having a voltage drop proportion'altothe am perage supplied to said tube, a charging circuit containing in series variableresistancemeans and a capacitor fori accumulating a charge of:increasing voltage supplied by said resistor durin exposure periods, a relay having :control contacts disposedin saidrenergizing networkto control the energi'zation of said' tube; a, control network disposed between said capacitor andisaid relay, a discharge tube forming part of 'sai'dicon trol network and having a plate circuit for controlling said relay and a grid circuit connected with said capacitor for actuating said relay and operable to stop the energization of said'tube' in response to said capacitor voltage reaching-"a given magnitude, a voltag source connected across said capacitor and rated for impressing on said capacitor a low voltage as compared with said magnitude to maintain the starting voltage of said capacitor at a given valuedifferent from zero in order to reduc the current'in said grid circuit, contact means interposed between saidcapacitor and said source for disconnecting'the latter during exposures, and a starter switch disposed in said control network to cause, when actuated, said control network to energize said relay, said switch and said contact means form-- ing a unit operable to automatically disconnect said voltage source from said capacitor when said switch is actuated for starting an exposure.

4. The combination with anX-ray apparatus having an X-ray tube and a network for energizing said tube, of an exposure system'comprising a resistor connected with said network and having a voltage drop proportional to the cur-'- rent supplied to said tube; a charging circuit connected' across said resistor and comprising in series variable resistance means and a lowl'eakage capacitor for accumulating a 'charge'ofim' creasing capacitor voltageduring exposures, a measuring circuit connected with said-capacitor. for measuring said voltage, a'rela'y having a relayif'coil and: contacts,1lthelatter 'being' disposed in saidenergizing-network to'control the energizationof said tube; a gasdischarge tube having a grid circuit connected to said voltagemeasuring circuit, alternating current supply means controlled bysaid discharge tube and ,connected; withv said relay,- a valve circuit disposed in parallel to said relay in order to carry the selfinduction current of said relay-coil in the blocking intervals of said discharge-tube, and switch means under controlot the operator forconnecting saidcurrent supplymeansthrough said discharge tube with said relay coil for starting an exposure to be terminated-bythe grid control caused by said measuring circuit when said capacitor voltage exceeds a given magnitude.

5, An X-ray apparatus having an X-ray tube, an'alternating current circuitfor supplying exposure" energy to said tube, a high voltage transformer disposed between said'circuit and said tube, said transformerjhaving two high -'voltage secondaries arranged in series and connected to said-tube,-the intermediate connection of said secondaries being grounded and containing a resistor for developing a voltage drop proportional tothe high voltage current supplied to said tube, a charging circuit connectedwith said resistor and containing in series a rectifier, a variable resistance means and a-capacitor for accumulating a. charge of increasing capacitor voltage duringexposure periods,. a voltmetric tube circuit connected with said capacitor for measuring'said capacitor voltage, a relay having a coil and contacts controlled by said coil, said contacts being inserted in said A. C; supply circuit for controlling the energy supply tosaid tube, an A. C. power circuit connected with said relay coil and containing a gas discharge tube having a grid circuit connected with said voltmetricv tube circuit and operable to block the flow of current through- Louis L. WEISGIIJASS 

